Tonkawa Tribal Officials|Admit They Embezzled

OKLAHOMA CITY (CN) – The former president of the Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma pleaded guilty to conspiring to embezzle more than $500,000 from the tribe, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Anthony Street, 48, of Ponca City, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to embezzle tribal funds. He was indicted in October 2011 on 16 counts of embezzlement, accused of conspiring with tribal Vice President Gordon L. Warrior and Secretary-Treasurer Dawena Pappan to steal the money from 2005 to 2008. About 300 checks were issued from the tribe’s general fund, which includes money from the tribe’s casinos, prosecutors said. Street faces up to 5 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Under his plea agreement, he agreed to pay restitution to the tribe and prosecutors agreed to drop the remaining counts. He is to be sentenced on Sept. 5. Warrior and Pappan have pleaded guilty to embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars in casino proceeds. They are to be sentenced on June 20.